Chinese word

要不

Pronunciation

Pinyinyào bù

Meaning

  • conjunctionhow about

Example

要不我们去吃饭吧。yào bù wǒ men qù chī fàn ba

How about we go eat.

Illustration for 要不 (how about)

More examples

如果你不去说明情况，要不大家会误会。rú guǒ nǐ bú qù shuō míng qíng kuàng yào bú dà jiā huì wù huì

Unless you explain the situation, everyone will misunderstand.

Core concept

A conversational fork in the plan: one option is set aside and another is put forward.

Common phrases

  • 要不就yào bú jiù

    then let's

  • 要不这样吧yào bú zhè yàng ba

    Let's do this

Similar words

还是hái shì: A connector used in a question to offer choices and ask which one to choose.
要么yào me: A connector that presents two clear choices in an either-or situation.
或者huò zhě: A connector that lists possible choices in speech or writing.
不然bù rán: A connector showing what will happen if an action is not taken.

Definition in Chinese

口语中常用的连词，用于提出替代性建议或作为两项选择的并列连词，语气较为随意。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng de lián cí yòng yú tí chū tì dài xìng jiàn yì huò zuò wéi liǎng xiàng xuǎn zé de bìng liè lián cí yǔ qì jiào wéi suí yì

Word origin

要不 (yàobù, "how about; otherwise") is a spoken shortening of 要不然 (yàobùrán, "otherwise"), used to present a different path when the first one is not chosen.

Usage tips

  • The final particle 吧 (ba, "suggestion marker") often makes a proposal with this word sound softer, as in a casual plan, rather than like a firm decision.

Other meanings

  • alternativelyconjunction
  • otherwiseconjunction

Related words

Word lists with this word